As outlined in our ProCADS dispositional assessment framework, teacher candidates are assessed by multiple stakeholders at multiple points during their teacher preparation experience using our ProCADS rubrics. These rubrics each have four indicators: Unsatisfactory, Developing, Proficient, and Exemplary. If a teacher candidate is assessed at the Unsatisfactory level for any ProCAD domain, a ProCADS Refinement Plan needs to be created. (Note: the ProCADS Refinement Plan takes the place of what was previously referred to as a Dispositional Deficiency Report).
Should a ProCADs area for refinement be noted via an Unsatisfactory ProCAD domain assessment, the stakeholder (e.g., faculty, instructor, supervisor, classroom mentor, school administrator) who observed the ProCADs area for refinement will complete a ProCADs Refinement Plan using UTK’s Higher Ed Assessment of Learning (HAL) system. These Refinement Plans are maintained in the Office of School-Based Experiences (OSBE).
The teacher candidate will be contacted within three (3) working days and informed that a Refinement Plan has been filed, and to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan. The meeting will occur in a timely manner or no more than five (5) working days from the candidate being notified of the Refinement Plan; documented extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the meeting, the ProCADs Refinement Plan will be discussed and the teacher candidate will be asked to sign the Refinement Plan in recognition that the meeting has taken place. The candidate also will be provided the option to add written comments regarding the ProCADs Refinement Plan. The ProCADs Refinement Plan will be digitized and uploaded to the HAL system by the UTK faculty, instructor, and/or supervisor. The process for rectifying the identified area(s) for refinement will be outlined in the Refinement Plan as they are unique to each individual situation.
UTK's Procedure for Addressing Multiple ProCADs Refinement Plans:
FIRST recorded Refinement Plan: A UTK representative will contact the candidate within three (3) working days to inform the candidate that a Refinement Plan has been filed and to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan. The meeting will occur in a timely manner or no more than five (5) working days from the candidate being notified of the Refinement Plan being filed; documented extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the meeting, the ProCADs Refinement Plan will be discussed and the teacher candidate will be asked to sign the Refinement Plan in recognition that the meeting has taken place. The candidate also will be provided the option to add written comments regarding the ProCADs Refinement Plan. The candidate’s progress towards rectification of the area(s) for refinement will be monitored as outlined in the plan. The ProCADs Refinement Plan will be digitized and uploaded to the HAL system by the UTK faculty, instructor, and/or supervisor.
SECOND recorded Refinement Plan: A UTK representative will contact the candidate within three (3) working days to inform the candidate that a Refinement Plan has been filed and to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan. The meeting will occur in a timely manner or no more than five (5) working days from the candidate being notified of the ProCADs Refinement Plan being filed; documented extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the meeting, the ProCADs Refinement Plan will be discussed and the teacher candidate will be asked to sign the Refinement Plan in recognition that the meeting has taken place. The candidate also will be provided the option to add written comments regarding the ProCADs Refinement Plan. The candidate’s progress towards rectification of the area(s) for refinement will be monitored as outlined in the plan. The ProCADs Refinement Plan will be digitized and uploaded to the HAL system by the UTK faculty, instructor, and/or supervisor.
THIRD recorded Refinement Plan: A UTK representative will contact the candidate within three (3) working days to inform the candidate that a Refinement Plan has been filed and to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan. The meeting will occur in a timely manner or no more than five (5) working days from the candidate being notified of the ProCADs Refinement Plan being filed; documented extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the meeting, the ProCADs Refinement Plan will be discussed and the teacher candidate will be asked to sign the Refinement Plan in recognition that the meeting has taken place. The candidate also will be provided the option to add written comments regarding the ProCADs Refinement Plan. The candidate’s progress towards rectification of the area(s) for refinement will be monitored as outlined in the plan. The ProCADs Refinement Plan will be digitized and uploaded to the HAL system by the UTK faculty, instructor, and/or supervisor. In addition, the teacher candidate will be informed and sign the plan acknowledging awareness that an additional filed area for refinement plan can be grounds for removal from the teacher preparation program.
FOURTH recorded Refinement Plan: A UTK representative will contact the candidate within three (3) working days to inform the candidate that a Refinement Plan has been filed and to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan. The meeting will occur in a timely manner or no more than five (5) working days from the candidate being notified of the ProCADs Refinement Plan being filed; documented extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. During the meeting, the candidate’s progression in the program will be reviewed along with the formal written Refinement Plans signed by the candidate. If determined that the candidate’s progress towards rectification was unsatisfactory, the candidate will be advised that a recommendation for the candidate’s removal from the teacher preparation program will be sent to the Department Head at this time. The Program Area Coordinator will submit a written request for the candidate’s removal from the teacher preparation program to the Department Head signed by the Program Area Coordinator, OSBE Director, and teacher candidate.
● The candidate will also be advised that he or she has the right to prepare and deliver a written response to the Department Head within fourteen (14) days for consideration along with the recommendation.
● The candidate will sign a statement that he or she is aware of the information being sent to the Department Head although he or she may not necessarily agree with it.
● Copies of all documentation regarding ProCADs Refinement Plans for the candidate (including the form indicating awareness of the process) will be sent to the Department Head along with a copy of the “Recommendation for Removal From Program” form (see recommendation for removal form below) to the Department Head within 24 hours of the meeting.
● The Department Head will then review this information, along with any written response submitted by the candidate. The Department Head will meet with the candidate and the advisor, designated faculty member, and/or instructional team leader within fourteen (14) working days of receiving the recommendation for removal to review all information and make a decision. The Department Head will then direct that one of the following actions be taken:
▪ Continuation of the candidate in the program,
▪ Candidate removal from the program, or
▪ Insufficient evidence to make a decision (in which case the candidate stays in the program)
● Following this decision, the candidate may appeal to the Associate Dean for Teacher Licensure within fourteen (14) working days of receiving the Department Head's decision.
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